[log in to unmask],Net writes:
>4. Three practices in Coop with answerphone and pager service, using
>cottage
>hospital to see patients at
>At each stage we were terrified of the possible leap in workload that
>would
>happen. In each case the workload did not progress in a purely
>additional
>amount but by only about 25%. So we started from covering 1 Dr per 3500
>patients to 1 Dr per 29000 patients. I think the move from divert to
>answerphone was the most traumatic for patients, having to make the
>second
>call. We used to get the "Is Dr Trowell on call? Oh that's alright.
>Could
>you come and see little Johnny" type of call. These are now handled by
>the
>pager service, who also arrange for patients to attend cottage hospital.
>I think it may be _nicer_ for the patients. I'm not sure it's _better_
>for
>them; it's certainly WORSE for the Dr's sanity. ;-)
Run it by me one more time...
You do not at present see anyone who does not need to be seen.
You see 25% * 3 steps more patients now than when you had a different
system.
EIther people are iller, or more demanding, or they were being left to
suffer.
It might be the middle one, which is I think a change that has occurred
simultaneously to but not because of the changes in access arrangements
and therfore should not be used to generalise about those changes.
ALternatively, send a few away with a knowledge that they are making
inappropriate use of the service.
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